Chun Sing, CHAN

Mr Chan Chun Sing is Minister for Trade and Industry, responsible for driving Singapore’s economic and industrial development. He was appointed to this role and as Minister-in-charge of the Public Service from 1 May 2018. Mr Chan is also Deputy Chairman of the People’s Association since 1 October 2015.

Mr Chan was Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) from 4 May 2015 to 22 May 2018. At NTUC, he expanded the Labour Movement network to represent all working people in Singapore, and led efforts to curate and deliver timely and relevant training for workers. Mr Chan also served as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office from 9 April 2015 to 30 April 2018, upon relinquishing his prior appointments as Minister for Social and Family Development (MSF) and Second Minister for Defence, both of which he had held since 1 September 2013. At MSF, he was responsible for improving social service delivery, enhancing social safety nets and strengthening support for families in Singapore.

His other previous appointments included Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (21 May 2011 to 31 October 2012) and Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts (21 May 2011 to 31 July 2012).

Mr Chan served with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) from 1987 to 2011. He held various appointments, including Chief of Army (2010 to 2011), Chief of Staff, Joint Staff (2009 to 2010) and Commander 9th Division / Chief Infantry Officer (2007 to 2009). He left the SAF to run in the 2011 General Election and was elected Member of Parliament for Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency (GRC).

Educated at the Raffles Institution (1982 to 1985) and Raffles Junior College (1986 to 1987), Mr Chan was awarded the SAF (Overseas) and President’s Scholarship to study Economics at Christ’s College, Cambridge University in the United Kingdom in 1988 and graduated with First Class Honours. Mr Chan was awarded the Distinguished Master Strategist Award 1998 by the US Army Command and Staff College. In 2005, he completed the Sloan Fellows Programme at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology under the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship.

Born in 1969, Mr Chan is married with three children and enjoys reading and jogging.